What Next for the People of Iran?

This episode of 'It Could Happen Here' examines the escalating U.S.-Israel bombing campaign against Iran, codenamed Operation Epic Fury, which began in February 2026 and has resulted in widespread civilian casualties, including the deaths of over 175 schoolchildren in Minab. The host critiques the lack of clear strategic objectives behind the war, contrasting it with the 2003 shock and awe campaign in Iraq, and highlights the failure of precision bombing despite advanced technology. The episode dissects the divergent goals of the U.S. and Israel—U.S. seeking access to petrochemical resources and regime influence, Israel aiming to cripple Iran’s infrastructure and prevent future threats—while emphasizing that neither side has achieved its aims. Despite a ceasefire brokered in Pakistan involving J.D. Vance and Jared Kushner, Iran continues to attack U.S. allies and Kurdish regions, while the U.S. and Israel persist in bombing civilian infrastructure. The episode underscores the resilience of Iran’s state apparatus, including the IRGC, Basij, and Quds Force, and criticizes the U.S. for failing to liberate the Iranian people, instead prioritizing resource extraction. It concludes with a call for solidarity with the people of Iran, not their state, and a warning that the war has deepened repression and regional instability.